Motor-vehicle



A. A. SCHNEIDER.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.15.191.

1.358,252. Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Hrno/d f7. chne/'a'er' @3M i D ttoznaw ARNOLD n. SCHNEIDER, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Speeineation of Letters Patent.

Patented Nev. 9, 19.20.

Application filed November j 1918. Serial No. 262,699.

To @ZZ wiz-om t 'may concern:

Be it known` that I, ARNOLD A. SCHNEIDER, a citizen of Switzerland,and residing at letroit, in the county of Wayne and State of ilflichiga'n, have invented a new and Improved ldotor-Vehicle, of which the following vis a specification.

lt is customary to provide motorcycles with side attachments consisting of a onewheeled seated frame whereon the eXtra passenger or passengers are carried, but the vehicle so formed is unsightly, can be steered only with difficulty, and is objectionable for other reasons. The present invention relates to a vehicle which is also intended for light service, but which both avoids the objections referred to and is advantageous otherwise.

More particularly, it consists in a vehicle comprising a central frame and two wheels arranged with reference to eachother in substantially the same manner as are those of the ordinary motorcycle or bicycle, together with a pair of relatively small spring supported wheels spaced laterally from and preferably forwardly of the driving wheel, whereby proper lateral support is insured.

The invention further consists in a vehicle of this nature wherein the lateral wheels may be elevated from or lowered to the ground by the driver while sitting in the seat, whereby the machine may be driven in substantially the same manner as the ordinary motorcycle, if desired, or after speed is attained. 1 y

The invention also consists in various other details of construction and arrangements of parts hereinafter pointed out.

ln the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, parts being broken away, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

2 is a plan View, the body being removed. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section more clearly showing the manner of supporting the auxiliary wheels. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The frame 1, which may be made in one piece, is somewhat similar to that of a well known type of bicycle, being divided at the rear to form two arms 2, spaced'considerably from one another,\between which the axle 3 of the wheel 4 is adjustably mounted in any suitable manner. At its forward end, the frame rises to receive the steering post 5 between the forks 6 of which the wheel 8 is positioned in the ordinary way. Handle .barst 9 or any` other desired means serve for steering pufposes.4

lThe frame also' preferably includes the upwardly and forwardly inclined elements l0 which are joined at their tops by a cross bark il that may roject laterally beyond the arms 2 as indica-ted in Fig. 2. The arms maybe joined rearwardly of the forli by the cross bar l2. Considerable variation may be exercised in positioning the several parts of the frame; however, it in any event forms a rather broad support for a body l5 which is preferably of sheet metal and wide enough to accommodate two or more persons on the upholstered seat 16 thereof, it being understood that the body narrows in graceful lines from the foot space forwardly. The body may be secured to the frame as by means of the bolt 18 that passes through the cross bar l2, and other bolts the holes for which appear at 19, and, to avoid rattling, rubber gaskets or blocks, one of which is indicated at 20, may be interposed. Y

The vehicle may be propelled by Vany suitable means, such as the sprocketwheel 25, the chain 26, the sprocket wheel 27 and the engine 28, the latter being mounted on the rear wall or back 29 of the body` or elsewhere'. In order to permit access to the en gine and associated parts a sheet metal hood is pro vided, it being so arranged as to swing upwardly about the horizontal pivot i 3l; and the mud is kept off the engine by the plate or guard 82, slotted to permit passage of the chain and formed rigidly with the body structure. Y

A; suitable brake is conventionally shown at 33, (Fig. 2); it may be operated' from the seat by any suitable means, not shown.

Mounted on the frame just forwardly of the wheel 4.are. a pair of housings 35 in which` a non-rotatable tubular member or axle bearing 36 is adapted to rise and fall in association with the springs 38; and eX- tending through the bearings is an axle 39 which hasrigid therewith posts or arms 40-4l on the-ends of which the small auxiliary wheels 42 are car 'ied for lateral support. In lthe vehicle shown, the axle is swingable in the bearing to carry the wheels 42 from the full-line position to that shown in dotted lines (Fig. l), vand mechanism, one embodiment of which vconsists in the links 43, 44, the bell crank 45 and the hand y lever 46, is provided for operating the axle Y. of the invention.

from the seat. p the operating,` rod i9 of which extends to the seat, is adapted to be received in either of two notches in the axle to hold'the latterat the desired limit of movement. By

i3 to the arm by a give#VV attaching` the link and-tahe connection such Vas :that forined'by' bending` the end roi1 5l in the arm 40, it is evident that the necessary freedom for vertical movement of the vaxle housing in Vthe boxes V35 is permitted. lt will be seen that the body 15,'in `the em-V bodiment shown, comprises downward extensions whereby the wheels l2 are con ceal 1l when inV elevated position;` these wheels, as well as the wheels 4 6, are

equipped with the usual pneumatic tires...

The normal position of the wheels d2, when the vehicle is stationary, is as shown in fulllines in Fig. l, and this positionrmay be maintained under usual running condi tions such as in cities and on smooth highways. Y `'lf he bearing then rises and falls in the housing` 35V as the various small obstructions or irregularities in the road surface are encountered, and as the vehicle passes around corners or curves, regardless ofV whether the f load is balanced or not, and .the necessary freedom for desirable lateral swaying is thus permitted. ln case the vehicle has one occupant only or the load is otherwise balanced the wheels e2 may be lifted, especially when it is desired to run at high speed, in which case the vehicle operates substantially the same as an ordinary motorcycle'.

This `frame and general construction allows the use of a variety of bodies of neat pleasing lines and such as adord both comlfort and groom to the user, and-the whole vehicle may 'be-manufactured andV operated at an'exceedingly low cost. Y Y

Various` .changes inthe construction and arrangement of the several parts, other than those heretofore pointed out, may obviously be made without departing from the spirit l do not,therefore, wish A to be limited otherwise than indicated by the subjoined claims.

l claim :--V Y' l c i l. ln avehicle comprising a frame, a -front wheel and a rear wheel ali-ned witheach other, in the central longitudinal'planeof the vehicle,1the front wheel being` swingable for steering` purposes,a bearing,` mounted inthe frame ina plane transversely tothe central longitudinal plane and adapted to havevver-V tical movement, spring` `for each end of the bearingadapted to resistsaid movement, an

axle mounted in said bearing'arms on the outer ends of saidaxle, auxiliary wheels rotatablyv mounted on the ends of said arms and vmeans to swing said axle torpress the auxiliary wheels against the roadway.l

l i spring,` pressed latch iS,V

the link overinto a slot 'movement of each end axle mounted, in said bearing and arms 'mounted on the ends of said axle, a bracing,`

Q2. ln a vehicle, the combination .o'l' a frame, a fro-nt steering,` wheel and 'a driven rear wheel on which the frame is mounted, a bearing' mounted "in the trame 4in a plane transversely to the plane passing through said iront and rearwheels, the endsof said 'bearing adapted to have vertical movement,

spring for each end of the bearing. adapted to resist said movement, an axle mounted in said bearinmarms on the outer ends ofV said axle, auxiliary wheelsvmounted on the ends of said arms,'and means adapted to be operated by apassenger on Vthe vehicle for turningA said axle to lelevate said auxiliary wheels while the vehicle is in motion.

ln Aa Yvehicle of the class described, aV

wheelmounted trame, a bearing mounted in said framewithits ends adapted Vfor vertical movement a 'spring` to resist the vertical of the bearing, an

wheel mounted' on the end of each-arm, and means for shifting said bracing wheels about said axle from a position in which they contact with the road surface to a position iii Awhich they are free and clear therefrom.

they are elevated therefrom, and meansfor holding the axle inV either at will.

vehicle comprising,` a frame mounted on a front wheel and a rear wheel, said wheels being in alinement longitudinally ot the vehicle, the i'ront wheel being steeiable, means for driving thev rear wheel to propel of said positions the vehicle, a bearingmoun'ted in said frame in a plane transversely to the plane ol the wheels ot the vehicle, the ends ot said bearing being adapted lfor vertical movement,

springs to vresist said movement, an axle mounted in said bearing and arms on the outer ends of said axle, a pair of relatively small transversely alined auxiliary wheels symmetrically arranged with reference to the longitudinal central vertical plane oi" the vehicle and niountedron the outer ends of saidy arms, and mea-ns for locking said laxle when turnedto carrythe wheels out of contact with the roadway.

, ARNOLD A. sciiiminnn. 

